Chusetts



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. BROWN 8a W. H. DE LONG.

TAPE MEASURE.

No. 578,205. Paten-ted Mar. 2,' 1897.

Nirnn STATES @PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BROWN AND WILLIAM H. DE LONG, OF WORCESTER, MASSA- OHUSETTS; SAID DE LONG ASSIGNOR TO SAID BROWN.

TAPE-MEASURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,205, dated March 2, 1897.

Application tied March 22,1'895.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. BROWN and WILLIAM H. DE LONG, citizens of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Irnprovement in Tape-Measures, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, in which-h Figure -1 represents a side elevation of a tape-measure embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the opposite side to that represented in Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa side elevation similar to that represented in Fig. 2, but having the case shown in sectional view, the side of the case next the beholder having been removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a central sectional view on line 5 5, Fig. l. Figi 6 represents a detached view of the barrel upon which the tape is wound and represented in sectional view on line 6 6, Fig. 3 g and Fig. 7 represents a portion of the rim of the barrel with the free end of the steel blade which forms the brake, said blade being shown in central sectional View.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the diiferent figures.

Our invention relates more particularly to that class of tape-measures designed for use by surveyors and civil engineers; and it has for its object to produce a more convenient case, in which the measuring-tape is wound and held, which will readily enable the desired tension to be applied to the tape-measure when the case is held in the hand, said case being cast of metal and preferably in a single piece; and our invention has also for its object to provide means for checking the rotation of the barrel upon which the measuring-tape is wound, for controlling the Ineasuring-tape as it is wound upon the barrel, and also to provide means for fastening the end of the tape to the winding-barrel, and for fastening the free end of the tape when it is wound upon the barrel, and these obj ects are l attained by means of the construct-ion and ar- Serial No. 542,863. (No model.)

rangement of parts as hereinafter described,

and shown in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A denotes a metallic shell or case, preferably of cast metal and constructed with its handle A in a single piece with the case. The case A comprises a central stud A2, radiating'spokes A3, uniting 5 5 the central stud with a circular rim A4, ring A5, and short spokes A6, connecting the ring A5 with the outer Ycircular rim A4. Upon one side the riln A4 is extended to form a curved handle A', said handle having its curvature 6o lying in the plane of rotation of the barrel upon which the tape is wound and adapted to be held in the hand and allow a direct pull upon the free end of the measuring-tape to be conveniently resisted by the person holding the case, and upon the under and farther side of the case from the handle at a point' about one-third of its circumference the rim A4 is extended to form a spout A7, so arranged with reference to the handle A' that when the han- 7o dle is held in the hand the measuring-tape can be drawn through the spout A7 in a direction tangential to the coil wound upon the rotating barrel and in a nearly direct line with the handle A and delivered from the case through the opening A8 in the end of the spout A7.

The central stud A2 forms a pivot around which the rotating barrel B turns, on which the measuring-tape B is wound. The barrel B consists of a circular web B2, provided with 8o a concentric inner flange B3, inclosing the central stud A2, and a concentric outer iian ge B4, upon which the tape is Wound. The web B2 is provided on its outer surface with the projecting lugs B5, to which is hinged a lever 85 B6, carrying in its end a stud B7, upon which is journaleda roll B8, forming a handle which is held upon the stud B7 by a screw B9.

The roll B8 is provided with an enlarged or daring base B40, so that when the roll is seized 9o by the tips of the thumb and fingers they will be prevented from coming in contact with the lever B4". The lever B6 extends a short distance beyond the lugs B5and preferably carrying rolls B41, rotating upon pins B12, held in 9 5 the lever B6, and bearing against blade-v springs B13, which are secured to the under side of the web B2 by screws B11. Each of the blade-springs B13 is bent near its free end, 'as at B15 B15, with the bent sections extending through openings B11i B16 in the web B2, bringing the blade-springs into cont-act with the rolls B11, so the tension of the blade-springs B13 will hold the lever B6 in the position shown in Fig. l, or in the extended position indicated by the broken lines B17, Fig. 1.

The outer ange B4, upon which the tape is wound, is cut apart, with the end B13 bent in toward the center of the barrel and prp; vided with a spur B19, which enters a hole in the end of the tape, thereby attaching the tape to the barrel and permitting it to be readily detached when unwound by lifting the perforated end of the tape oii the spur B15.

Friction is applied to the outer surface of the tape wound upon the barrel by means of a blade C, pivoted at one end about a screw C', held in the curved handle A', and having its free end resting upon the surface of the tape as it is wound upon the barrel with a pressure due to the tension of a blade-spring C3,attached to the blade C and bearing against the inner surface 0f the ease. When the tape has been unwound from the barrel B, the free end of the blade C drops into the notch formed by the bent end B15n of the iiange B1 striking the end B30, thereby checking the further rotation of the barrel and allowing the tape to be drawn taut. It is, however, frequently necessary to cheek the rotation of the barrel B, in order to allow the tape to be drawn taut7 when only a portion of the tape has been unwound from the barrel. This is accomplished by providing the ring A5 with a series of notches A9 and pivoting a pawl D on the outer side of the web D3, adapted to engage one of the notches A9 and hold the barrel from rotation. The pawl D is attached to a spindle D', rotating in a boss D3, Fig. 4, projecting from the under side of the web B3. The inner end of the spindle is enlarged and provided with flattened sides D3, against which theend of the spring D1 bears, so as to hold thepawl D either in engagement with one of the notches A, as represented in Fig. l, or in the position indicated by the broken lines D5, Fig. l.

The end of the tape B is provided with a ring E, larger in diameter than the width of the opening A5, and when the tape has been wound upon the barrel B the ring E is fastened by being inserted in the semieircular notch E in the rim A4 and by being drawn into the semicircular notch E2 in the end of the spout and held therein by the winding up of the tape, the pawl D and notches A being suitably arranged, so that when the ring E is drawn into the notch E2 the pawl D will engage one of the notches A9 and hold the tape taut.

When it is desired to unwind the tape, the

pawl D is pushed out of engagement with the notch A9 into the position indicated by the broken lines D5, Fig. l, in which position the pawl will be held by the tension of the spring D4, thereby allowing the tape to be loosened and the ring E to be released from the ease.

The web B2 is provided with a hole F to receive the roll B8 when the lever B6 is folded upon the barrel, and when the tape requires to be wound upon the barrel B the lever B5 is extended into the position shown by the broken lines B11. The barrel B is held upon nthecentral stud A2 by means of a washer G and a screw G', thereby allowing the barrel to be readily removed.

XVe are aware that it is not new to provide a case or frame containing a tape-measure with a projecting handle, and we do notelaim such, broadly.

Te provide the case with a curved handle arranged opposite to the delivery of the tape, so the strain upon the tape in drawing it taut will be received as a direct pull upon the hand.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a tape-measure the case, or shell A vcomprising the central stud A3, rim A1, ring A5 uniting spokes A3 connecting said central stud and said rim, short spokes A6 connecting said rim and said ring A5, a barrel carried 0n said central stud and means for eonneet ing said barrel and said ring, substantially as described.

2. In a tape-measure, the combination of a case or shell comprising a ring A5 having notches A9, a rotating barrel held insaid case and a pawl pivoted on said barrel and adapted to engage said notches and check the rotation of said barrel, substantially as described.

3. In a tape-measure, the combination of a case or shell, a barrel held in said shell having a iiange B4 bent as at B13, a spur B19 and a tape havinga perforated end detachably engaging said spur, substantially as described.

4. In a tape-measure, the combination of the case or shell, a barrel rotating in said ease, lever B6 hinged to said barrel rolls B11 carried by said lever, blade-springs B13 attached to said barrel and bearing against said rolls, stud B7 carried by the end of said lever and a roll B8 provided with an enlarged or flaring base B10, substantially as described.

5. In a tape-measure, the combination of a case or shell, a handle projecting therefrom, a rotating barrel held in said case, a blade pivoted in said handle and having its free end arranged to bear upon the tape as it is wound upon said barrel, and a spring applied to said blade to press it upon the tape, substantially as described.

6. In a tape-measure, the combination of a case or shell, a handle projecting from the side of said case, a rotating barrel held in said case and provided with a notch in its pe- TOO IIO

IIS

riphery, a blade pivoted in said handle with by the free end of said tape adapted to lie in its free end arranged to bear upon the tape said notches, and means forholding said baras it is Wound upon said barrel and to engage rel from rotation, substantially as described. said notch as the tape is unwound and aspring Dated the 28th day of February, 1895'.

5 applied to said blade, substantially as de- WM H BROWN scribed.

7. In atape-Ineasure, the combinationwith WILL-IAM H DE LONG' a case or shell provided With the notches E Witnesses: and E2, of a rotating barrel held in said case, A RUFUS B. FOWLER,

Io a tape Wound upon said barrel, a ring carried EMMA KESTER. 

